At approximately 17:10, Israeli soldiers in an observation tower on a bridge between al-Matahen and Abu Houli checkpoints on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and the south of the Gaza Strip, fired at 3 Palestinian civilians who were trying to repair the car in which they were traveling. Kamal 'Abed 'Aashour, 38, was seriously wounded by a live bullet that entered the abdomen and exited the back and then hit 'Abdul Rahim Ishaq Shurrab, 44, in the pelvis. Then, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. The two were left bleeding for 10 minutes. When the checkpoints were reopened, a civilian car took the wounded to al-Matahen checkpoint and then an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society evacuated them to hospital. At approximately 20:00, Israeli soldiers positioned between the al-Mawasi area in Deir al-Balah and the al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis fired at two Palestinian boys who attempted to enter the al-Mawasi area in Khan Yunis through an Israeli military buffer zone. The two were wounded and arrested by Israeli soldiers:1. Mustafa Nassim Mustafa al-Astal, 17, evacuated to an Israeli hospital; and2. 'Ali Bashir 'Abdul Karim al-Astal, 16, wounded by a live bullet in the right shoulder. On Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. In the evening of Wednesday, Israeli soldiers opened fire at Palestinian civilians wounding two.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially adopted by the Israeli government.

At approximately 02:30 on Wednesday, Israeli occupying forces surrounded the house of Hassan 'Ali Badra in al-Hashashin area in the south of Balata refugee camp, east of Nablus. Israeli soldiers knocked on the door of the 3-story house and Badra opened it. Immediately, dozens of Israeli soldiers rushed into the house and searched it.

They asked Badra about his son Ussama, 27. They did not find him, so they left the house at approximately 03:00. At approximately 03:15, they came back. When Badra opened the door, they again rushed into the house. A number of soldiers mounted the roof and pointed their guns at the roof of the stairs where Ussama was hiding.

They fired at him from a distance of only 3m. He was wounded and fell onto the roof of the house. Israeli soldiers surrounded him and left him bleeding until 04:45, when they allowed an ambulance of Palestine Red Crescent Society to evacuate him. When the medical personnel arrived, he was dead. His body was evacuated to hospital. According to medical sources, he was shot by two live bullets in the chest and the left shoulder and by shrapnel in the right hand.

The Israeli daily Ydiot Aharanot quoted an Israeli security sources on its Arabic web page as saying: "Security forces killed a Palestinian, who was wanted by security services, in Balata refugee camp near Nablus this morning.

He was killed when he attempted to escape when soldiers came to arrest him." An Israeli military source claimed that "soldiers fired warning bullets to deter him, but he attempted to escape again, so they shot him dead." However, circumstances of the incident refute the Israeli claim. Israeli soldiers could have used less lethal means against him as he was not armed.

At approximately 10:30, an
Israeli infantry unit, reinforced with a number of heavy military vehicles,
moved approximately 300m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.They raided the house of Khaled Ibrahim
Homeidan al-Sumeiri and held the 8 residents of the house in one room.Israeli soldiers checked their identities and
searched the house.Two hours later,
additional Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into
the area.They opened fire at farms and
residential areas, but no casualties were reported.Then, two Israeli military bulldozers razed
areas of Palestinian agricultural land.At approximately 11:45, an
Israeli infantry unit, reinforced with military jeeps, moved approximately 200m
into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.They raided the house of 'Adnan Mohammed Abu
Haddaf and held its 8 residents in one room.Israeli soldier checked the identity cards of the residents and searched
the house.Then, they arrested the
owner's two sons: Hazem, 22, a university student, and Mohammed, 18.On Tuesday and Wednesday, Israeli forces closed the two checkpoints. Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially adopted by the Israeli government.

On Tuesday, Israeli occupying forces shot dead Yassin Sa'id D'iab al-Agha, 24, from Khan Yunis. Initial evidence indicates that he was shot dead after he had been wounded and arrested by Israeli soldiers.

According to PCHR's investigation and eyewitnesses' testimonies, at approximately 02:45, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and jeeps, moved into al-Rabwat area in the northwest of Khan Yunis. Israeli military vehicles were positioned near 'Abdullah 'Azzam Mosque in Jamal 'Abdul Nasser Stree, linking between Khan Yunis and al-Qarara village.

Israeli soldiers, including masked ones, were deployed in the area. They surrounded al-Shawakra residential community and called on the residents to leave their houses. Israeli soldiers ordered one of them, Adib Shukri D'ib al-Agha, 34, to go to the houses of Sa'id D'iab al-Agha and Ziad Sa'id D'iab al-Agha and tell their residents to leave the houses.

Then, they ordered him to enter the houses. They raided and searched the houses using dogs, damaging their furniture. Two hours later, sounds of shooting were heard in the backyard of the house of Sa'id D'iab al-Agha, where his son Yassin, who is wanted by the Israeli forces, was hiding. In his testimony to PCHR, Bassem Shukri D'ib al-Agha, who was in his house only 2m away from the aforementioned backyard, said:

"Between 04:30 and 05:00, I heard sounds coming from the backyard of the house of my relative Sa'id al-Agha. It sounded like it came from Israeli soldiers who invaded the area. They ordered someone to stop and I heard sounds of shooting.

Then, I heard an Israeli soldier saying in Lebanese Arabic: 'Do not be afraid! Talk to me! I do not want to shoot you." I heard a voice that I could not recognize as it was very low. The conversation continued for 10-15 minutes, during which I recognized the voice of the person the Israeli soldiers were talking with. It was Yassin Sa'id al-Agha.

Then, I saw a military car, a Suzuki, stop in the yard in front of our house. I saw the feet of a person who was lying on his back in the car. He was wearing a brown pajama. The, Israeli forces withdrew from the area. I knew later that they arrested my brother Adib, 34, Ziad Sa'id al-Agha, 35 and his brother Yassin, 24, who is believed to have been wounded during arrest."

At approximately 05:30, Israeli forces withdrew from the area leaving a statement written in Arabic and signed by the command of the Israeli army in the Gaza Strip which said: "To residents of al-Qarara, the Israeli Defense Force is operating in your area to stop subversive activities carried out by terrorist Yassin al-Agha against Israel."

Later, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot reported on its Arabic web page that, according to Israeli sources, a unit of Israeli soldier shot dead a Hamas activist in Khan Yunis called Yassin al-Agha, while they were attempting to arrest him. It added that an undercover unit and soldiers of the Shimshon brigade raided al-Agha's house.

It also claimed that when they got close to the house, he threw a big stone at them and attempted to use his gun, which was the reason why they shot him dead.

However, ink was seen on al-Agha's fingers, which indicates that Israeli soldiers took his fingerprints and it raises suspicions that he was liquidates after he had been arrested. His body was delivered to the Palestinian side at noon. According to medical sources, he was shot by 8 live bullets in the legs and the abdomen.

At approximately 17:30, an
Israeli infantry unit, accompanied by 3 military jeeps, moved approximately
300m into the Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.They took position on the main and branch
roads in the area.They stopped a number
of cars and passing civilians and checked their identity cards.Upon their withdrawal from the area 3 hours
later, Israeli soldiers arrested two Palestinians.At approximately 19:00,
Israeli heavy military vehicles moved approximately 50m into Block J in Rafah
refugee camp, adjacent to the Egyptian border.This Israeli incursion continued until 05:00 on Tuesday, 10 December
2002, during which Israeli forces opened fire at the area.They also demolished two Palestinian houses.Israeli forces also
destroyed fences surrounding area of agricultural land.At approximately 10:00, medical sources in al-Istiqlal Hospital in Jordan declared that 16-year-old Ahmed 'Abdul Karim Hussein al-Majaida, from Khan Yunis, succumbed to a wound he sustained about two months ago. According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 17:45 on Tuesday, 24 September 2002, Israeli soldiers in military jeeps in the vicinity of "Gani Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, fired at a number of Palestinian children who threw stones. Al-Majaida and another child were wounded. Al-Majiada was in serious condition, so he was transferred to a Jordanian hospital. In an apparent willful killing, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep on a bypass road leading to "Einab" settlement, east of Tulkarm, fired at a handicapped Palestinian, wounding him with a live bullet in the back. He bled to death. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 13:00, while Bassel Mustafa Mohammed Kou', 29, from Beit Lid village, east of Tulkarm, was riding his donkey in the Ra's al-Shama area east of the village, Israeli soldiers in a military jeep, that was patrolling on a bypass road between Nablus-Tulkarm road and "Einab" settlement, fired at him from a distance of approximately 300m. He was wounded by a live bullet in the back. They left him bleeding for two hours without offering him any help. According to an eyewitness, he informed Israeli soldiers that Kou' was mentally handicapped, but they did not offer him help. Kou' was evacuated to hospital dead. According to medical sources, he was wounded by an explosive live bullet and his life could have been saved if he was brought to hospital earlier. At approximately 18:30, Israeli soldiers at Abu Houli military checkpoint, south of Deir al-Balah, fired at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoint in their cars. The checkpoint had been closed for several hours. Ibrahim 'Abdul Nour Abu Shallouf, 19, from Rafah, was wounded by a live bullet in the back. A PCHR field worker reported that Abu Shallouf, who is a student in an UNRWA training center in Gaza City, was wounded while he was traveling in an UNRWA bus on his way home. In an apparent willful killing, in the evening, Israeli occupying forces, which had already seized control over Nablus, shot dead a 25-year-old Palestinian woman and wounded her husband and his mother. According to the husband, at approximately 19:00, he was driving his car towards his home. His brother Jamil, 25, his wife Rihana Hisham Fakhri Zeid al-Kilani, 25, and his mother Khadija Beiram, 52, were accompanying him. They were coming back from the Women's Union Hospital northwest of Nablus. When he crossed an iron gate established by the Israeli forces to separate the eastern and western parts of the city, he was surprised by the coming of an Israeli tank and an armored personnel carrier from the opposite direction. When Israeli soldiers saw the car, they moved towards it. He was forced to stop the car to avoid colliding with the heavy military vehicles. However, the two military vehicles continued to move towards the car. He was forced to drive the car back until a junction of branch road linking Amman Street in the north and al-Quds Street in the south. He turned the car to the right. As soon as he entered the branch road, the engine of the car stopped. Immediately, Israeli soldiers on the tank opened fired at the car. The car was hit by several live bullets. He succeeded in starting the car again although he was wounded in the left shoulder. He traveled south towards al-Quds Street. He asked his companions if anyone was wounded. His mother told him that she and his wife were both wounded. He decided to go to hospital in the western part of the city. The Israeli military vehicles continued to chase them. After he moved 200m forward, he stopped the car and got out of it. He helped his companions getting out of the car. His wife lost conscious and was bleeding from the chest. He used a public phone to call an ambulance. Five minutes later, an ambulance arrived at the area and evacuated the mother and the wife to Rafidya Hospital. Then, another ambulance arrived and evacuated him. His wife died 15 minutes after arrival at hospital. According to medical sources, she was shot by 3 live bullets that entered the back and exited the chest. The husband was wounded by a live bullet in the left shoulder and the mother was wounded by shrapnel in the head and the left arm. At approximately 21:10, Dhiaa' Fakhri al-Zaghi, 19, from Kufor 'Aqab village, north of occupied Jerusalem, and his family were waiting at Qalandya military checkpoint, which they had to cross to get home. Israeli soldiers at the checkpoint denied their passage although it was raining heavily. He phoned the liaison offices, which apparently ordered the Israeli soldiers to open the checkpoint. However, the Israeli soldiers allowed women and children only to cross. When al-Zaghi and his father turned back, Israeli soldiers fired at him from a distance of 2m only. He was wounded by 3 rubber-coated metal bullets in the head and 9 others in the neck, the shoulders and the back.

On Monday, Israeli forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint separating Khan Yunis from its
al-Mawasi area.Dozens of people were
not able to go back home and were forced to spend the night at houses of their
relatives and friends.Israeli soldiers
fired at people who waited near the checkpoint to drive them away.Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints. Israeli soldiers searched a number of cars and checked the identity cards of passengers. They arrested Ahmed Rushdi al-Zeini, 28, a member of the Palestinian National Security force. In the evening, Israeli soldiers fired at an UNRWA bus, wounding a Palestinian student.

On Monday, 'Azzam 'Abdul Qader Hassan 'Alawna, 45, from 'Azmout village, east of Nablus,
died from a heart attack as Israeli forces at a military checkpoint obstructed
his evacuation to hospital.

At approximately 16:30,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the Tal Zo’rob area,
southwest of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses at Zo’rob square.A Palestinian woman, Hunaida Suleiman Hammad
Bureika, 30, was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the head, while she was
inside her house, approximately 400m east of source of fire.In the evening, a
Palestinian woman, Nahla 'Abdul Rahman 'Aqel, 42, was killed when Israeli
forces indiscriminately shelled a Palestinian residential area in Rafah.In his testimony to PCHR, the victim's son,
Mohammed 'Aadel 'Aqel, 18, said: “In the morning, my 9-member
family and I were in our new house in the north of Bader camp, which includes
dozens of houses that were built by UNRWA for those whose houses were
demolished by Israeli forces.We were
given a new house in the camp as our house in al-Qarara village in Khan Yunis
was demolished about 18 months ago.We
were in the house to prepare it for living.At approximately 19:00, we were about to leave the house.While my father was closing the door, an
Israeli tank in the vicinity of the Gush Qatif settlement block, opposite Tal
al-Sultan neighborhood and approximately 300m west of our house, opened fire at
us.My father asked my brothers and
mother, Nahla 'Abdul Rahman 'Aqel, 42, to lie on the floor and we did for about
two minutes, during which the shooting continued.When the shooting stopped, my father asked me
to call the neighbors for help.My
mother, my brothers: 'Ali, 11, and Tamer, 5, and my sister Nivin, 15, were
wounded.Israeli soldiers fired at us
again.When the Israeli gunfire stopped,
a number of neighbors came.We evacuated
the wounded in a civilian car to a Palestine Red Crescent Society center in Tal
al-Sultan neighborhood.From there, they
were transferred to Abu Yousef al-Najjar Hospital in Rafah.My mother died during surgery as she was
wounded by a live bullet in the neck.Doctors informed us that Nivin was wounded by a live bullet in the
pelvis, 'Ali was wounded by a live bullet in the right thigh and Tamer was
wounded by shrapnel in the head.They
were in moderate to serious condition.”

On the second day of the
Islamic feast ('Eid al-Futter), Israeli occupying forces, reinforced
with heavy military vehicles and combat helicopters, invaded al-Boreij refugee
camp in the central Gaza Strip to destroy a house of an a wanted Palestinian.The Israeli invasion left 10 Palestinians,
mostly civilians, dead.According to PCHR's
investigation, at approximately 01:00, around 50 Israeli soldiers, with colored
faces, moved from the eastern border of the Gaza Strip approximately 2km into
al-Boreij refugee camp in the center of the Gaza Strip.They surrounded the house of the family of
Ayman al-Shishnia, who is wanted by the Israeli forces.Mohammed and 'Emad 'Abdul Hamid al-'Oweini,
28 and 26 respectively, members of the Palestinian National Security Force,
discovered the presence of the Israeli soldier and fire erupted between the two
and the soldiers, who were positioned near the southeastern side of the
house.Another group of Israeli soldiers,
positioned 100m north, fired at the two brothers.The two were killed by several live bullets
throughout the body.Meanwhile, two
Israeli combat helicopters flew over the area.They opened fire indiscriminately.Around 17 Israeli tanks moved into the southeastern part of the refugee
camp, while 5 tanks moved in from the al-Shuhada' junction, south of Gaza City,
through Salah al-Din Street. Israeli forces seized complete control over the
refugee camp and opened fire at its houses.A number of Palestinian gunmen moved to defend the camp and confronted
the invading Israeli forces.A number of
Palestinian civilians were close to the area of clashes.Soon, an Israeli combat helicopter launched a
missile at a group of Palestinian civilians who had gathered near the area of
clashes.Seven Palestinians, including a
child and two gunmen, were killed:1.Ussama Hassan al-Tahrawi, 30, a gunman;2.Tariq Yahia Ramadan, 28, a gunman;3.Ra'ed Yahia Ramadan, 35, brother of the second
victim;4.Marwan Saber al-Tahrawi, 16;5.'Abdul Mon'em Mohammed al-Bahar, 30;6.Hazem Jamil Abu 'Abdu, 30; and7.Rani 'Omar al-'Aalem, 24.In addition, 6
Palestinians, including 5 brothers, were wounded:1.Nabil Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah Mansour, 30, wounded by
shrapnel in the right hand;2.Na'im Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah Mansour, 28, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot;3.Ra'ed Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah Mansour, 26, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot and side;4.Ahmed Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah Mansour, 21, wounded by
shrapnel in the head; 5.Khader Mohammed 'Abdul Fattah Mansour, 18, wounded by
shrapnel in the right foot; and6.Salim 'Abdul Majid Khalil, 32, wounded by shrapnel in
the right foot.Israeli tanks then moved
towards the house of al-Shishnia.They
opened fire at the area.A Palestinian
woman, Ahlam Rezeq Qandil, 32, was seriously wounded by two live bullets in the
mouth and the right shoulder.She was
evacuated to hospital, but the attempts to save her life failed.Israeli soldiers surrounded the house of al-Shishnia.They raided and searched it.They also arrested 3 of its residents.Then, they forced its residents out and
destroyed it.A number of neighboring
houses were severely damaged.PCHR's
field worker in the central Gaza Strip reported that ambulances were not able
to enter the refugee camp on time, due to the intense Israeli shelling and
gunfire.Israeli forces withdrew from
al-Boreij refugee camp at approximately 04:30. At approximately 15:00,
Israeli forces invaded Shweika neighborhood in the north of Tulkarm.They opened fire at passing Palestinian
civilians, wounding four:1.Rafe' 'Abdul Rahman 'Abdullah Jaradat, 29, wounded by
a live bullet in the left leg;2.Khalil Khaled Mohammed Yousef, 9, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the left leg;3.Mujahed Mohammed Mustafa Salama, 12, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the right forearm; and4.'Eleiwa Sharif 'Abdul Shafi, 17, wounded by a
rubber-coated metal bullet in the head.

In the afternoon, Israeli
soldiers in a military jeep positioned on the road linking Tulkarm and its
refugee camp fired from a distance of approximately 50m at 17-year-old Islam
"Mohammed Jihad" Hussein Jamal, from Tulkarm refugee camp.He was seriously wounded by a live bullet
that entered the neck and exited the left shoulder.He was evacuated to the intensive care unit
in Ramallah Hospital.

Extra-Judicial Assassinations

In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially adopted by the Israeli government.

At approximately 18:00 on Friday, an Israeli undercover unit in civilian clothes infiltrated the al-Khaniq area south of Seilat al-Harthia village in Jenin.

As soon as 'Abdul Hadi 'Omar Najib al-'Emari, 21, appeared in the area, Israeli soldiers opened fire at him without warning. He was killed by 4 live bullets in the abdomen.

About 5 minutes later, Israeli forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into the village. They opened fire at houses and streets. Four passing Palestinian civilians were wounded by live ammunition. On its Arabic web page, the Israeli daily Yediot Aharanot quoted Israeli sources as saying that soldiers of "al-Musta'rebin" (Arabianizers) killed a wanted Palestinian in Seilat al-Harthia village, called 'Abdul Hadi al-'Emari, a member of the Islamic Jihad.

The newspaper also reported, quoting sources of the central command of the Israeli army, that al-'Emari attempted to escape, so soldiers shot him dead. Eyewitnesses refuted such claims and asserted that al-'Emari was fired at without warning.

Collective Punishment Measures against
Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed
Attacks against Israeli Targets
In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces carried out retaliatory measures
against families of Palestinians who have attacked Israeli targets in
the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces.

On Friday morning, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles and
combat helicopters, invaded al-Boreij refugee camp in the central Gaza
Strip.Ten Palestinians, including a
child and a woman, were killed.Israeli
forces surrounded the house of Salah Anis al-Shishnia, 60, in Block 12.About 30 Israeli soldiers raided and searched
the house and destroyed its furniture.They also arrested the owner's sons: Mohammed, 33, and 'Eissa, 25, and a
neighbor, Na'im Jibril, 41.The three
were released several hours later.Then,
Israeli soldiers forced residents of the 400-square-meter, 2-story house out
and destroyed it and two neighboring houses:1.A 200-square-meter house, in which 6 persons used to
live owned by Fawzi Ahmed al-Fassih; and2.A 470-square-meter, asbestos-roofed house, in which 3
families, counting 11 persons used to live, owned by 'Abdul Rahman Ibrahim Abu
Gharqoud.In addition, 12 houses were
severely damaged.Al-Shishnia is the
father of Ayman al-Shishnia, 33, who is wanted by Israeli forces.

In the morning, Israeli
forces moved into Tulkarm to maintain the curfew imposed on the town.Israeli soldiers on armored personnel
carriers opened fire at Palestinian civilians, who were out celebrating the
Islamic feast (‘Eid al-Futter).Seven civilians, including 5 children, were wounded by rubber-coated
metal bullets.At approximately 10:30,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in the Tal Zo’rob area,
southwest of Rafah, fired two artillery shells to the east.The two shells fell on the Egyptian border
near Zo’rob square.As a result,
shrapnel hit a building of the Palestine Red Crescent Society in the area,
damaging its doors and windows, but no casualties were reported.Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets In violation of international and humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces carried out retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have attacked Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by Israeli forces. At approximately 01:00 on Thursday, about 50 Israeli soldiers, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved approximately 500m into Tal al-'Ojoul area in al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Sa'id Shihada Hassan and raided and searched the 210-square-meter house. Then, they arrested the owner's son Ussama, 20, and took him to "Netzarim" settlement, north of the village. Then, they forced the 8 residents of the house out and destroyed it. An Israeli military bulldozer also partially demolished a 160-square-meter, 2-story house owned by Yousef Khalil Shihada.

At approximately 10:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 200m into Abu Qaraqoush area in the south of Khan Yunis, east of
Morag settlement.An Israeli military
bulldozer razed a 3-donum area of agricultural land planted with olives, which
is a part of a 24-donum area, 7 donums of which had been razed by Israeli
forces on 10 November 2002. The land is owned by heirs of Khalil Isma’il Khalil
al-Masri.At approximately 17:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 300m into Khuza’a village, east of Khan Yunis.They fired live ammunition, flare and sound
bombs at the Palestinian National Security Force site in the area.Then, an Israeli military bulldozer leveled
sand barriers on a tract of land owned by Mohammed Suleiman Abu Khutai, which
was razed on 25 August 2002.

Early in the morning, Israeli occupying forces shot dead two Palestinians who were wanted by those forces:1. Ahmed Hashem Daoud Sorour, 22; and2. Kazhem Asa'ad Shawar, 23, both from Hebron. Israeli forces claimed they returned fire at the two after the two fired at them during an arrest attempt. At noon, their bodies were delivered to the Palestinian side. According to medical sources, the two were shot by several live bullets throughout the body. According to information available to PCHR, at approximately 02:00, residents of the villages of Taffouh and Dura, southwest of Hebron, noticed movement by Israeli forces towards al-'Amouria area between the two villages. Soon, sounds of intense shooting were heard in the area. Later, it was discovered that Sorour and Shawar were hiding in a room adjacent to a cow farm when they were attacked by Israeli forces. No additional information was available as the incident took place in an isolated area. In the evening, Israeli soldiers shot at a handicapped Palestinian child in the old town of Nablus, seriously wounding him with a live bullet in the neck, which made a cut in the spinal cord and fractures of 4 vertebras of the spinal column. According to the victim's mother, at approximately 17:40, after the end of fasting on the last day of the Ramadan month, her child, Shadi 'Awni Manosur, 15, left the house to buy toys in celebration of the Islamic feast. While he was playing with his friends near the house in al-Qarioun area in the old town of Nablus, Israeli soldiers positioned on the roof of the house of the al-Shu'abi family fired at children. They were all able to escape, except for Manour, who is deaf. He remained in the area alone. Soon, an Israeli sniper fired at him, wounding him with a live bullet in the neck. Ambulances were able to evacuate him to hospital only an hour later, as Israeli soldiers obstructed their access to the area. He was evacuated to hospital in serious condition. According to medical sources, the live bullet settled in the left shoulder, causing a hemorrhage, a cut in the spinal cord and fractures of 4 vertebras of the spinal column. He is now paralyzed. At approximately 20:00, an Israeli undercover unit infiltrated Bala'a village, east of Tulkarm. They opened fire at passing Palestinian civilians wounding two:1. Ibrahim Saleh Ibrahim Nassar, 40, seriously wounded by 4 live bullets in the pelvis, the right leg and the left foot; and2. Ra'ed Khairi Saleh 'Awad, 13, wounded by a live bullet in the right foot. Extra-Judicial Assassinations In a continuation of the policy of extra-judicial assassinations of Palestinian activists officially adopted by the Israeli government. At approximately 14:20 on Wednesday, 5 Israeli combat helicopters launched 3 missiles at Abu Khadra governmental compound in the center of Gaza City. The missiles hit a 5-square-meter guardroom located near the entrance of a building of the Ministry of Civil Affairs. Mustafa Ahmed Sabbah, 35, from al-Nasser neighborhood, who had worked as a civil guard in Abu Khadra compound, was killed. According to eyewitnesses, his body was found distorted, about half a meter east of the room. Israeli forces admitted responsibility for this extra-judicial assassination, and claimed that the victim, who was an activist of the Palestinian Popular Resistance Committee, had carried out a number of attacks against Israeli targets in the Gaza Strip.

In the morning, Israeli
occupying forces fired two Fletchette shells at two Palestinian civilians
without prior warning, wounding them seriously.According to PCHR's investigation, at approximately 07:45, Mohammed
Sa'id Mohammed al-Sweis, 27, from Gaza City, and his brother Nihad, 13, were
walking on a sandy road approximately 800m away from the border with Israel
east of Gaza City.Israeli soldiers at
the border fired a Fletchette shell at the two brothers, who did not pose any
threat to the lives of those soldiers.The two were wounded.The elder
brother fell to the ground, while his brother was able to escape from the area
to inform his family, but Israeli soldiers fired another shell that hit
him.The elder brother were lying on the
ground bleeding for more than an hour, before his brother Ramadan and two
friends were able to reach the area.They took clothes off their upper parts of the body and moved forward
the wounded with their hands in the air in order to be allowed by Israeli
soldiers to offer help to the wounded.The two brothers were evacuated to hospital.The elder brother was wounded by shrapnel
throughout the body, while his brother was wounded by shrapnel in the legs and
the left side.At approximately 23:15,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with three heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 600m into al-Qarara village, north of Khan Yunis.An Israeli military bulldozer then demolished
a 120-square-meter, asbestos-roofed site of the Palestinian National Security
Force.It also leveled areas of
Palestinian agricultural land that had already been razed by Israeli
forces.At approximately 15:00,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Gani
Tal" settlement, northwest of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in
al-Amal neighborhood in the west of the town.An Israeli mobile observation tower in the settlement and a tank
positioned approximately 100m away also opened fire at the neighborhood.Three Palestinian civilians, including a
child, were wounded:1.Mustafa Rawhi Mahmoud Abu 'Abdu, 10, wounded by
shrapnel in the abdomen;2.Shadi Ahmed Madhi, 29, wounded by shrapnel in the
back; and3.'Emad Mahmoud Tayem Abu Laban, 32, wounded by a live
bullet in the left thigh.At approximately 11:45, while many civilian cars were trying to enter Ramallah and al-Bireh through their northern entrances, after the curfew imposed on the two towns had been lifted, Israeli soldiers in three military jeeps positioned at the northern entrance of al-Bireh opened fire at those cars. An old woman, Fatma Mohammed 'Eid al-Harahsha, 95, from 'Atara village, north of Ramallah, was shot by a live bullet in the heart. She succumbed to her wound on the way to hospital. Another woman, Kifaya Ra'fat Yousef, 41, was wounded by a live bullet in the left side.

2 dec 2002At approximately 08:40, an
Israeli undercover unit stole into al-Masarwa neighborhood at the edge of the
old town of Jenin, in two civilian cars with Palestinian registration numbers,
in an attempt to arrest two Palestinians wanted by the Israeli forces for being
members of the Islamic Jihad.An Israeli
military unit also moved into the area to reinforce the undercover unit.Israeli forces took position at the western
and eastern entrances of the old town and imposed a curfew on the town.At approximately 09:30, while school children
were on their way back home after the curfew had been imposed. A number of them
gathered near the Israeli forces and threw stones towards them.Immediately, Israeli soldiers opened fire at
the stone throwers.Mo’taz Kamal
Mohammed ‘Ouda, 18, was critically wounded by a live bullet that entered the
right shoulder and hit the heart.He
succumbed to his wound upon arrival at hospital.In addition, 21, including 16 children, a
48-year-old woman and a 65-year-old man, were wounded, two of them
critically.In a similar incident,
Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian civilian and wounded seven
others in Tulkarm.According to information
available to PCHR, at approximately 15:05, an Israeli undercover unit stole
into the eastern part of Tulkarm in a truck with a Palestinian registration
plate.The truck stopped near al-Shahed
Restaurant and members of the undercover unit, who were masked and in military
uniform, got out.They broke into the
restaurant while firing indiscriminately at passing Palestinian civilians.Jamal Nader Yahia, 30, was wounded by shrapnel
from live bullets in the head and the right hand.Later, a number of Palestinian civilians
gathered in the area and threw stones at the Israeli unit.Immediately, Israeli heavy military vehicles
and jeeps moved into the town and imposed siege on the area.They opened fire indiscriminately, wounding
six Palestinian civilians who didn’t participate in the stone throwing.At approximately 15:30, a number of
Palestinian gunmen arrived at the area and an exchange of fire erupted between
the two sides.When Maher “Mohammed
Ramez” Fawzi Saqallah, 19, attempted to see what was going on by looking around
the corner of a road in the area, an Israeli sniper shot him dead with a live
bullet in the head.According to
eyewitnesses, Saqallah was not armed and did not throw stones at the Israeli
forces.In an apparent willful killing, Israeli occupying forces shot dead a Palestinian worker and wounded nine others near Beit Hanoun crossing in the northern Gaza Strip, while they were on their way home. According to PCHR’s investigation, at approximately 15:30, Israeli soldiers in a military location, south of “Erez” industrial zone and east of “Nissanit” settlement, opened fire at thousands of Palestinian workers while they were in the passage of workers at Beit Hanoun crossing on their way home. One of the workers, Khaled ‘Abdul Ghani Mohammed Nasser, 35, from Beit Hanoun, was shot dead by a live bullet that entered the back and exited the chest. In addition, 11 workers were wounded:1. Manar Sa’id Wadi, 50, from Kahn Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the face and the neck;2. Riadh Mohammed al-‘Aamoudi, 40, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the abdomen;3. Khaled ‘Abdullah al-Tubji, 36, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the right foot;4. Mustafa ‘Abdullah Hijazi, 41, from Bani Suhaila village in Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the chest and the right thigh;5. Marwan ‘Abdullah Hijazi, 30, from Bani Suhaila village in Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the neck and the thighs;6. Ghassan ‘Abdullah Hijazi, 35, from Bani Suhaila village in Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the abdomen, the thighs and the nose;7. Ziad Jamil Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, 35, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the right eye and he lost it;8. Ra’fat jamil Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, 37, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the head;9. Salman Mohammed Abu Daraj, 41, from Khan Yunis, wounded by shrapnel in the left thigh and forearm, the abdomen and the lower jaw;10. Salman Qaudeih, 41, from Khan Yunis, wounded by a live bullet in the right knee; and11. Saleh Mohammed Saleh, 25, from Jabalya, wounded by shrapnel in the right thigh. The incident took place after Palestinian gunmen fired a mortar at “Nissanit” settlement adjacent to Beit Hanoun crossing.

On Monday morning, Hassan Shihada Qersh, 75, from al-Shayah neighborhood near
al-‘Eizaria village in occupied East-Jerusalem died from a heart attack, as
Israeli occupying forces obstructed his evacuation to hospital.Israeli forces prevented his neighbors from
taking him to a nearby hospital and denied the access of an ambulance to the
area on time.

At approximately 12:00,
Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 200m into al-Mughraqa village, south of Gaza City.They razed more areas of Palestinian
agricultural land and destroyed agricultural facilities additional to those
that were razed and destroyed on Thursday, 28 November 2002.At approximately 14:30,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations and on tanks at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses and agricultural land
in al-Shouka neighborhood.A Palestinian
farmer, 'Abada Mohammed Abu Jarad, 29, was wounded by two live bullets in the
legs.PCHR's field worker in Rafah
reported that Abu Jarad was wounded while he was working in his fields.In the afternoon, Israeli soldiers at a military checkpoint near Abu Houli junction on Salah al-Din Street, the main road between the north and south of the Gaza Strip, fired at a civilian car, in which 'Abdul Muhsen al-Astal and his wife Miriam Yousef Mohammed al-Astal, 27, were traveling towards Khan Yunis, shortly after it had crossed the checkpoint. The wife was seriously wounded by a live bullet in the back. Soon, Israeli soldiers called through loudspeakers on al-Astal to stop and move back. He informed them that his wife was wounded and they allowed them to leave 5 minutes later. The wife was moved to the intensive care unit at Nasser Hospital in Khan Yunis. According to medical sources, the wife was wounded by an explosive live bullet whose shrapnel spread out in the intestines and the spinal column. A PCHR field worker reported that the area was completely quiet and the checkpoint was open when Israeli soldiers fired at the car.

A Failed Assassination AttemptIn a continuation of the
policy of extra-judicial assassinations officially adopted by the Israeli
political and military establishments against Palestinian activists, the
Israeli occupying forces this week carried out a failed assassination attempt
that targeted a commander of the military wing of the Islamic Jihad in Jabalya
in the northern Gaza Strip.The
commander, his guard and a passing child were wounded.According to PCHR’s
investigation, at approximately 14:40 on Sunday, two Israeli
combat helicopters that were flying over Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip
launched a missile at a civilian car, a Peugeot 504, that was traveling near
al-Je’el fuel station, east of Jablaya.The missile hit the car directly and destroying it.The three men who were traveling in the car
were able to jump out of before the missile hit.Two of them were lightly wounded by shrapnel.A passing child, ‘Emad Silmi al-Barqawi, 14,
was also lightly wounded by shrapnel in the chest, the abdomen and the
legs.Later, the Islamic Jihad declared
that a commander of its military wing was traveling in the car, without giving
details about the identities of the men.

At approximately 07:10, Israeli occupying forces in military locations and on tanks at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in the nearby al-Salam neighborhood. A Palestinian civilian, 'Aatef Hussein 'Abdul 'Aal, 31, was wounded by a live bullet in the left arm. At approximately 20:30,
Israeli soldiers on a tank positioned near an Israeli military location at the
entrance of the al-Mawasi area in the west of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian
houses in Tal al-Sultan neighborhood.Two Palestinian civilians were wounded:1.Khalil Ibrahim Baroud, 29, wounded by shrapnel in the
right leg; and2.Rami Hassan Abu Sulaima, 25, wounded by shrapnel in
the left thigh.At approximately 22:00,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations and on tanks at the Egyptian
border, south of Rafah, opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah
refugee camp.A Palestinian civilian, Ahmed
Yousef Abu 'Obeid, 30, was wounded by shrapnel in the back.Late at night, two
Palestinian civilians were killed and 20 people wounded when Israeli forces
late last night moved in to Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip. During the
incursion they also demolished three houses.The body of one of the victims,a 70-year-old man, was discoveredon the following morning among the ruins of his house
that was destroyed by Israeli forces. The other victim was a 32-year-old man
who was traveling home in his car when he for no apparent reason was shot dead
by Israeli forces. According to PCHR’s
investigation, at approximately 22:30, Israeli forces, reinforced with tanks,
bulldozers and combat helicopters, and covered by intense shelling, invaded the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.They surrounded three houses owned by families of three Palestinians who
have carried out attacks against Israeli targets.Without prior warning, Israeli soldiers
called on the residents through loudspeakers to leave and then they destroyed
the houses.These Israeli measures are a
continuation of the policies of retaliatory collective punishment adopted by
the Israeli government against families of Palestinian activists (for more details
see the section on the Israeli retaliatory campaign against families of wanted
Palestinians and those who have carried out armed attacks against Israeli
targets).One of the houses that were
destroyed was owned by 'Aashour 'Abdul Malik D'ib, 70, who suffered from
hearing difficulties. D'ib was still in his room on the third floor of the
house when the Israeli forces destroyed the house, suggesting that he didn’t
hear the Israeli soldiers order to leave the house.Rescue teams discovered his body under the
ruins of his house in the morning. His family managed to escape the house. The PCHR fieldworker in the
area reported that more than 30 houses were severely damaged and a number of
civilian cars destroyed during the incursion.Israeli forces raided and searched a number of houses and arrested two
Palestinians.The three-hour Israeli
incursion ended at approximately 01:30 on Sunday, as Israeli occupying forces
began to withdraw to their military locations in "Dogit" settlement,
established on the land of Beit Lahia, which has been occupied since 1967.Meanwhile, 32-year-old Mahmoud Saleh Mohammed
al-Na'rani was traveling in his car towards his house in al-Nada housing
compound, east of Beit Lahia.When he
passed by Beit Lahia, Israeli soldiers opened fire at his car for no apparent
reason.He was killed by several live
bullets throughout the body.In
addition, 14 Palestinian civilians, including 9 children, were wounded by the
Israeli shelling:1.Mohammed Jamil Shamia, 13, wounded by shrapnel in the
head;2.Walid Hamdi al-Masri, 12, wounded by shrapnel in the
head; 3.Murad Maher al-Barrawi, 17, wounded by shrapnel in
the head;4.Ahmed Anwar 'Aziz, 12, wounded by a live bullet in
the left foot;5.Anwar Anwar 'Aziz, 10, wounded by shrapnel in the
face;6.Israa' Anwar 'Aziz, 11, wounded by shrapnel in the
face;7.Eyad Hassan al-Najjar, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the
face;8.Mohammed Zayed 'Oukal, 27, wounded by shrapnel in the
head;9.Jihan 'Aadel Abu Shouqa, 35, wounded by shrapnel in
the head;10.'Emad Ahmed Rayan, 19, wounded by shrapnel in the
left foot;11.Ra'ed Salah al-'Ajouri, 21, wounded by shrapnel in
the head; 12.Mustafa Rayan, 20, wounded by a live bullet in the
right leg;13.Wa'el Ba'lousha, 21, wounded by shrapnel in the right
hand; and14.'Ali Mousa al-Debes, 31, wounded by shrapnel in the
left hand.At approximately 09:30, Israeli occupying forces at the eastern border of the Gaza Strip, east of Gaza City, fired for no apparent reason at 17-year-old Hatem Rezeq Saleh al-'Ejla, from al-Shoja'eya neighborhood in Gaza, who was having a picnic with two of his friends approximately 1200m away from the border. Al-'Ejla was critically wounded by a live bullet in the abdomen, while his friends were able to escape. He was evacuated to a nearby hospital and then to Shifa' Hospital but he succumbed to his wound. Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints. They reopened the two checkpoints 2 hours later. They searched a number of cars randomly. Israeli soldiers searched cars and checked the identity cards of the passengers. Israeli soldiers also fired at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoints, but no casualties were reported. Israeli forces again closed the two checkpoints on the following day morning and cars were searched.

Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted
Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against
Israeli Targets
In violation of international humanitarian law which prohibits
collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against
families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli
targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by the
Israeli forces.

At approximately 22:30 on
Saturday, Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with tanks,
bulldozers and combat helicopters, and covered by intense shelling, invaded the
northern Gaza Strip town of Beit Lahia.They surrounded three houses owned by families of three Palestinians,
one of whom carried out an attack against Israeli targets while the other two
are wanted by Israeli forces.Without
prior warning, Israeli soldiers called on the residents through loudspeakers to
leave and then they destroyed the houses

At approximately 01:30,
Israeli occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of "Neve
Dekalim" settlement, west of Khan Yunis, shelled Palestinian houses in
Khan Yunis refugee camp.Two Palestinian
civilians were wounded:1.Mohammed Ahmed Abu Khudair, 25, wounded by shrapnel
in the right hand; and2.Tayseer Mohammed al-Najjar, 27, wounded by shrapnel
in the right hand.PCHR’s field worker in the
area reports that the two civilians were wounded while they were inside their
houses, approximately 50m away from the source of fire.In addition, a number of houses were damaged.At approximately 02:00, Israeli
occupying forces moved approximately 200m into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara
village, north of Khan Yunis.They
raided nine houses owned by the Abu Haddaf family and forced their residents
out.Then, they used one resident of
each house as human shields to search the houses. By the end of the search,
which continued until 05:00, Israeli soldiers had arrested 13
Palestinians.They were all taken to an
Israeli military location in the east of the Gaza Strip, where they were
interrogated.The detainees were then
released, except for 3 who remains in custody.At approximately 21:15,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location in Tal Zo'rob area in the
southwest of Rafah opened fire at Palestinian houses in 'Ali Ben Abi Taleb
Street adjacent to Zo'rob square.A
Palestinian woman, Najwan Sa'id Dahliz, 20, was wounded by shrapnel in the
face, while she was located close to her house.At approximately 14:00,
Israeli occupying force, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved
approximately 200m into Gizan Abu Rashwan area in the southwest of Khan
Yunis.An Israeli military bulldozer
destroyed a well and razed areas of Palestinian agricultural land.At approximately 20:30,
Israeli occupying forces in a military location near "Erez"
industrial zone, north of Beit Hanoun, opened fire at Palestinian residential
areas in the town.Mohammed Ibrahim
Yousef 'Awadh, 16, was wounded by a live bullet in the right foot.The PCHR field worker in the area reports
that 'Awadh was wounded while he was walking in the street, approximately 1500m
away from the source of fire. At the same time, Israeli
occupying forces in military locations in the vicinity of “Kfar Darom”
settlement, southeast of Deir al-Balah, opened fire at Palestinian residential
areas in Deir al-Balah and its refugee camp.A Palestinian woman, Salha Mohammed al-‘Arqan, 45, was wounded by a live
bullet in the right foot, while she was praying in her house in Deir al-Balah
refugee camp, approximately 4km away from the source of fire.Israeli forces closed al-Matahen and Abu Houli military checkpoints. They reopened the two checkpoints 2 hours later. They searched a number of cars randomly. Israeli soldiers searched cars and checked the identity cards of the passengers. Israeli soldiers also fired at Palestinian civilians who were waiting at the checkpoints, but no casualties were reported. Israeli forces again closed the two checkpoints on the following day morning and cars were searched. At approximately 09:00 on Friday, Israeli forces closed al-Tuffah checkpoint separating Khan Yunis from its al-Mawasi area. Dozens of people were not able to get home and were forced to spend the night with relatives and friends in Khan Younis. The checkpoint was reopened on Monday, 2 December 2002 according to strict conditions imposed recently by Israeli forces, which include a strict check of people and that anyone who wants to cross the checkpoint must be at least 40.Collective Punishment Measures against Families of Wanted Palestinians and Those Who Have Carried out Armed Attacks against Israeli Targets In violation of international humanitarian law which prohibits collective punishment, Israeli forces took retaliatory measures against families of Palestinians who have carried attacks against Israeli targets in the Occupied Palestinian Territories and those wanted by the Israeli forces. At approximately 06:30 on Friday, the Israeli occupying forces, reinforced with heavy military vehicles, moved into Jalboun village in Jenin. They surrounded the house of Mohammed Ragheb Abu al-Rub. They arrested three of the owner's sons: Habes, 30; Ragheb, 28; and Ibrahim, 20. Then, they forced the 9 residents of the 130-square-meter house out and destroyed it. Abu al-Rub is the father of Yousef Abu al-Rub, 22, who participated in an armed attack in Bissan on 28 November 2002. Later, Israeli forces moved to the house of Mohammed 'Awadh Abu al-Rub. They raided the house and arrested two of the owner's sons: Zuhdi, 26, and Khaled, 24. They forced the 8 residents out of the 120-square-meter house and destroyed it. Abu al-Rub is the father of 'Omar Abu al-Rub, 19, who participated in an armed attack in Bissan on 28 November 2002. After having destroyed the two houses, Israeli forces arrested three other Palestinians and took them to an unknown destination.

28 nov 2002At approximately 05:00,
Israeli forces moved approximately 200m into Abu Haddaf area in al-Qarara
village, north of Khan Yunis.They
raided and searched three houses owned by 'Abed Rabbu Sa'id Abu Haddaf, Salem
'Abdullah Abu Haddaf and Khaled Salman Abu Hajjaj.Israeli soldiers arrested Ahmed and Salah
Salem 'Obeiallah Abu Haddaf, 22 and 20 respectively. Both are university
students.At approximately 14:45,
Israeli occupying forces positioned at the Egyptian border, south of Rafah,
opened fire at Palestinian houses in Block L in Rafah refugee camp.Wajdi 'Omar al-Hams, 11, was wounded by a
live bullet in the right thigh.